Preface

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as one of the most powerful techniques for the identification of materials, and for the study of their dynamic properties. As a result, the technique has found tremendous uses in almost all fields of physical, natural, and health sciences.

Volume 8 of the book series entitled Applications of NMR Spectroscopy is mainly focussed on the practical uses of NMR spectroscopy in solving various key problems in biomedical, health, and food sciences. The contents include NMR based analysis of common sugars, plant based constituents, nucleic acids and proteins, as well as NMR- based metabolomics and MRI for the diagnosis of chronic and acute health disorders.

The review contributed by Yang et al. provides an overview of the use of quantitative NMR (qNMR) techniques for the analysis of six common sugars in complex food matrices, after derivatization with naphthimidazole (NAIM). Coffee plants contain many constituents which effect cognitive functions. Valderrama et al. have analysed the constituents of various coffee types, and correlated them through the use of the psychological attention test. Evran et al. have reviewed the recent literature on the NMR-based structures of aptamers (single stranded DNA and RNA molecules) selected via an iterative process called Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). The applications of NMR for the identification of the ligand binding mechanisms are discussed. The review contributed by Ibrahim and Gopalsamy describes various NMR techniques used in metabolomics-based diagnosis of common diseases. The next chapter by Asmaa and Mansour provides a critical analysis of various MRI-based diagnostic approaches to study diverse human cancers. Proteins are fascinating molecules, both because of their complex structures and their interactions with other biomolecules. NMR techniques have evolved over the years to determine the structures and functions of protein molecules. This is the key theme of chapter 6 by Bashir and Rashid.

We wish to thank all the eminent scientists for their scholarly contributions. The editorial team of Bentham Science Publishers, particularly Ms. Fariya Zulfiqar (Manager Publications) and team leader Mr. Mahmood Alam (Director Publications), deserves our deepest appreciation for compiling an excellent volume in a time efficient manner. We are confident that like the previous volumes of this book series, the current treatise will also receive wide appreciation for both the readers and practitioners of NMR spectroscopy.